Method of and apparatus for forming glass tubing



'Feb. 2, 1926. 1,571,216

L. D. SOUBIER METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING GLASS TUBING Filed Oct. 4, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR [saw/mp1). J ova/E1:

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'L. D. souBiER METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING GL ASS TUBING I Filed 001'.- .1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 150499190 60 mm 8%.

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L. D. S OUBIER METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING GLASS TUBING 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 4, 1923 3 INVENTOR [fa/v4 D. Sow/me 5W Patented Feb; 2. 1926.

* UNITED- STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEONARD D. S OUBIER, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE OWENS BOTTLE COMPANY,

OF TOLEDO, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

METHOD OF, AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING GLASS TUBING.

Application filed October 4, 1923. Serial No. 666,428.

- said outlet opening.

An object of the present invention is to provide in a tube flowing and drawing device, means to cause the glass as it lssues from the outlet opening, to assume the shape of a tube and thereafter be gradually brought to the desired size of tube required.

A further object is the provision of means for circulating the glassat the outlet so that the issuing glass will be of uniform viscosity.

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is aside elevation of an. apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is apart sectional plan of the projecting furnace boot or container.

Figure 3 is a sectional side elevation taken at the line III-III on Figure 4.

Figure 4 is a part sectional front elevation of. the device.

A furnace boot or extension is continuously' supplied with molten glass 11 from a furnace 12. .Projecting upward from the floor of the boot is a wall or dam 13 which is shaped so as to form with the front wall of the boot, a pot 14, said pot having formed in the bottom thereof an opening 15 through which the glass issues.

Projecting vertically downward into the glass, through the opening 15 and concentric therewith, is a clay forming member 16 (Fig. 3) which is shaped-at 17 so as to begin the formation of a tube as the glass issues from the outlet 15 and flows down around said portion of the former. The former 16 nection 41 with a worm wheel 42, said memis mounted in a split clamp 18 which has a screw thread connection with ahollow sleeve 19, said sleeve mounted for rotation in an adjustable bearing sleeve 22. The bearing, sleeve 22 is adjustable vertically in a bearing bracket 23 and .is held against rotation by a key 24 in said bracket. The means for adjusting the bearing sleeve com prises a worm 25 mount d on the bracket 23 and meshing with teeth 26 on the sleeve. A universal joint 27 connects the adjusting rod 28 to the worm, said rod having at its lower end an adjusting hand wheel 29. The rotation of the said hand wheel adjusts the bearing sleeve 22 up or down, thereby raising or lowering the former 16 to control the quantity of glass passing through the opening 15 of the boot. 1

Attached to the upper end of the hollow sleeve 19 is a spur gear 31 running in mesh with a pinion 32 mounted on a shaft 33 which projects upward from the bracket 23. A sprocket 34 formed on the lowerend of the pinion has a driving connection 38 with a suitable source of power.

Extending downward through the hollow sleeve 19 and through the opening 35 of the former16 is a clay nozzle or blow pipe 36 which serves as a gauge to control the diameter of the tube as it is being drawn and also supplies air, for forming the tube, through .a passageway 37 formed therein. Attached to the upperend of the blow pipe 36 is a tubular member 40 having a threaded .eonher 40 being mounted for vertical adjustment in a bearing 43 formed as part of a supporting bracket 44.. A worm 45 on a shaft 46 is in mesh with the said worm wheel and provides a means of adjustment for the blow pipe 36. An adjusting rod 47 (Fig. 4) provided with a hand wheel 48, is connected to the worm shaft by a universal joint'49, thereby bringing the means of adjustment within easy reach of the operator. 1

A housing 50 (Figs. 1 and 2) entirely surrounds the boot 10-and has openings 51 through which burners 52 are projected to maintain a correct temperature in the boot 10. A wall or cylinder. 53 (Fig. 3) surrounds th'e opening and revents the direct application of flame to t e glass, but is so formed with thin portions 54 at certain intervals that the' heat will be conducted therethrough and prevent the too rapid chilling of-the glass as it emerges from the pot.

A coil 55 is provided beneath 15 for temperature control at this point. The inflow of molten glass to the pot 14 may be controlled by the adjustable clay block 56, and may also be shut off entirely by lowering to its lowermost position. This control block is suspended by cable 57 from a pulley 58 and adjusted by a screw 61 in a bracket 62 attached to the furnace 12.

In operation, the gate 56 is raised allowing a continuous flow of molten glass to the pct 14. The pinion 32 is driven continuously, thus drlving the gear 31 and rotating the former 16, thereby circulating the glass in the pot 14. The glass flows continuously by gravity throughthe annular passageway between the former 16 and the walls of the outlet opening 15, so that a tubular shape is imparted to the issuing glass. The rotary circulation of the glass tends to retard the gravity flow, thusgiving better" control. It also imparts an equal temperature to the glass at all points in the circumference of said passageway and, moreover,

" the tube throughout its circumference. By-

insures a uniform thickness of the walls of adjusting the former vertically by means of the hand wheel 29, the amount of glass issuing from the outlet 15, and, therefore, the thickness of the walls of the tube is controlled.

Now, in order to overcome to a certain extent the action ofgravity upon the glass at the drawing point, the blow pipe 36 is held stationary, while the former 16 rotates, and

the glass adhering to the stationary blow provided pipe automatically creates at the drawing point a tension which acts against gravity when the tube is being drawn. Variations in the height to which the blow pipe 'is adjusted will vary the diameter of the tube formed within certain limits and at the same time vary the amount of tension at the drawing point The diameter of the tube may also be varied by the use of blow pipes of various diameters. 'By controlling the appllcation of heat to the walls of the cylinders 53, .the temperature at the drawing point may. be controlled. The coil is fbi: the purpose of giving a chill of sulficient intensity to the tube as formed,

in order that itmay retain its shape, but is to beused only as conditions at this point require. The tubing may be drawn by any suitable means known in the art.

Modifications may be resorted to within the spirit and scope of my invention.

the outlet the issuing glass and thereby assist inimparting a tubular formation to the glass. 2. In a tube forming device, the combination of a container for molten glass having an outlet 0 ening in the bottom thereof, a forming evice projecting vertically downward into the glass and through said opening, a blow pipe within andprojecting below the said forming device and providing a surface over which the glass flows beyond the forming device, and means to adjust said blow pipe vertically relative to the forming device and thereby vary the size of tubing.

3. In a tube forming device, the combination of a container for molten glass having an outlet opening in the bottom thereof,

' a vertically disposed blow pipe projecting downward through said opening, the lower portion of saidpi e roviding a shaping surface over whlc t e glass flows after passing the outlet opening, and means interposed between the said pipe and outlet to distribute the glass to said pipe.

4. In a tube forming device, the combination of a container for molten glass having an outlet opening in the bottom thereof, a vertically disposed blow pipe projecting downward through said opening, the lower portion of said ipe providing a shaping surface over which the glass flows after passing the outlet opening, and means separate from the blow pipe adjustable to vary the distribution of glass to said blow pipe.

5. In a tube forming device, the combination of a container for a pool of molten lass having an outlet opening in the ho tom thereof, a vertically disposed blow pipe projecting downward through the glass in the container and through said opening and providing a surface over which the glass flows as it, issues from the pool, means to vary the distribution of glass to said blow pipe, and means to vary the diameter of tube drawn.

6. In a glass forming device, the combination of a container for molten glass having an outlet opening in the bottom thereof,

a forming device projecting downward into means to vary the volume of. glass passing from said forming device to said blow pipe.

- glass at the point of departure from the pool, and causing a rotary movement of the glass at said point of eparture.

9. The method which consists in causm a rotative movement of glass-in a 'poolpo molten glass; and drawing the rotating glass away from the pool in the form of a tube extending vertically downward from the pool and formed at thepoint of departure from the-pool.

10. The method which consists in continuously s'u plying molten. glass to a pool of molten g ass, causing a rotative movement of glass in the pool, drawin the rosaid passageway,

'? the bottom thereof tating glass continuously away rom the pool in a cylindrical form extendin vertically'downward from the pool, an causing said form to be impartedto the glass at its oint ofideparture from the poor.

11. he method which cpnsists in causing a gravity flow of' lass in the form of a vertical tube exten 'ng downward from a pool of molten glass, and imparting saidtubular form to-the glass at its point of departure from the pool.

12. The combination of a container for molten glass having an outlet opening in the bottom thereof, a shaping member projecting downward into the glass concentrically with said opening and forming with the opening an annular passageway through which the glass issues, the lower portion of said member extendin below the outlet and having a downwardfy tapered surface ,over which the glass flows, means for causing a continuous discharge of glass through a formin member, and means to supply airthroug the center of said forming member. v

13. The combination of a container for molten glass havin an outlet opening in ormed with downwardly convergent walls, a forming device projecting down into said opening and provided with downwardl convergent walls, the walls of said forming device-and said outlet together forming an annular .downwardly convergent passa eway throu h which glass issues,'means or drawing t e glass throughsaid passageway, and'means to su ply air to maintain the glass in tubular orm asit is drawn.

'w'ardly convergent passa eway througlh e 14. The combination 'of a container for molten glass having an outlet opening in the bottom thereof formed with downwardly convergent walls, a forming device proje'cting down into'said openlng' and provided with downwardl convergent walls, the walls of said forming device and said outlet together forming an annular downwhich glass issues, means or drawing t glass through said passageway, means to supply air to maintam the glass in tubular form as it is drawn, and means for adjusting said forming device up and down and thereby adjusting the thickness of the walls of the drawn tubin 15. The combinatlon of a container for a pool of molten glass having an outlet opening in the bottom thereof formed with tapered walls, a forming device projecting downward through the pooland into said openin and provided with tapered walls, the wa ls of said forming device and said outlet together forming an annular tapered passageway through which glass issues in tubular form, means for drawing the glass through said passageway, and means to rotate said forming device about the axis of said outlet.

16. The combination of a container for molten glass having an outlet opening in the bottom thereof, a forming device projecting downwardly into the glass and forming with saidoutlet a downwardly and inwardly convergent annular passageway for the issuance of glass, means to draw the lssuing glass downward in the form of a tube, a low pipe extendin downwardly through the center of and below said forming device and presenting a forming surface over which the glass flows, and means for relativelyadjusting said blow pipe and forming device up and down.

17. The combination of a container for molten glass having an outlet opening in the bottom thereof, a forming device projecting downwardly into the glass and forming with said outlet a downwardly and inwardly convergent annular passageway for the issuance of glass, means to draw the issuin glass downward in the form of a tube, a low pipe extending downwardly through the center of and below said forming device and presenting a downwardly tapered forming surface over which the glass flows, said formin surface being approximately in line witfi said annular passageway, and means foradjusting said forming device up and down.

18. The combination of a container for molten glass having an outlet opening in the bottom thereof, a forming device projectmg downwardly into the lass and forming with said outlet an ann ar passageway for the issuance of glass, means to draw the issuing lass downward in the form of a downwardly o tube, a low pipe extendin through the center of said. orming device and having its lower end protruding below the forming device in-position to provide a forming surface over which the glass flows as' it leaves said forming device, and adjusting devices for separately adjusting said forming device and the blow pipe up and down each independentl of the other. 110 Signed at Toledo, in t e county of Lucas and State of Ohio, this -2nd day of October, 1923.

LEONARD D. SOUBIER. 

